09 Nov Fantastic Chocolate and Poached Pear Cake

Funny story, we made this Pear Chocolate Cake for the first time just a few days before it appeared on the cover of Bake from Scratch magazine. Our pictures were so similar for a second we thought they published our photo. But that was just a coincidence proving that great minds think alike =) We’ve never compared the recipes but can tell you that our version is excellent. This dessert is a pure chocolate delight with tender pears inside.

Fantastic Chocolate Pear Cake

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Ingredients

  

• water – 3 cups
• cognac – 1/2 cup optional
• sugar – 2 cups
• vanilla pot – 1 cut in half and scraped
• Bosc pears – 3 peeled
• all-purpose flour – 1 cup
• cacao – 2 tablespoons
• sugar – 1 cup
• salt – 1/2 teaspoon
• baking soda – 1 teaspoon
• baking powder – 1 teaspoon
• buttermilk or kefir – 1 cup
• large egg – 1
• vegetable oil – 2 tablespoon
• baking spray
• warm chocolate syrup for serving optional

Instructions

 

• In a medium pot combine the water, sugar, cognac, and vanilla pod. Bring it to a simmer.
• Add the pears to a simmering syrup. Cook for 40-50 minutes, until pears are soft.
• Remove the pears from the syrup, drain and cool completely.
• In a medium bowl mix the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
• In another bowl combine buttermilk, egg, and vegetable oil. Whisk until well mixed.
• Pour the buttermilk mixture into the bowl with the flour. Stir with a whisk until smooth.
• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with baking spray. Pour the batter into the pan and arrange the pears bottom side down in line.
• Bake for 60 minutes.
• Allow sitting for 25 minutes on a cooling rack before removing the cake from the pan.